Ink Is My Perfume
an art blog by Clayton Hollifield
Ink Is My Perfume
A (Chicken) Tender Moment
Finally, a new piece! "A (Chicken) Tender Moment," 12" x 18", intaglio/monoprint, 2010. Unique print.
This piece is currently showing over the the previously mentioned "Love in Print" show at Portland's Bite Studio. I'd definitely encourage you to check it out in person if at all possible - it's a pretty large print, and (of course) looks a million times better in person. But if that's not possible, you can click on the image and I've got a pretty large scan of it on my Flickr account. This thing has taken the better part of the last month to get done (I did it specifically for the show), and I'm fairly pleased with how it turned out. There's still some work to go before I can do a full official "edition" of it, but it's in the ballpark.
This piece is currently showing over the the previously mentioned "Love in Print" show at Portland's Bite Studio. I'd definitely encourage you to check it out in person if at all possible - it's a pretty large print, and (of course) looks a million times better in person. But if that's not possible, you can click on the image and I've got a pretty large scan of it on my Flickr account. This thing has taken the better part of the last month to get done (I did it specifically for the show), and I'm fairly pleased with how it turned out. There's still some work to go before I can do a full official "edition" of it, but it's in the ballpark.
Alrighty! That's about all I've got to say about that. Until next time...
c.
Love In Print show - opens TONIGHT!
Late notice, I know, but I've got a print in Bite Studio's annual Love in Print show. The show opens tonight (from 6-10 PM), and is chock-full of excellent printmakers. If you're looking for another stop on your First Friday rounds, hit up Bite Studio and feel the love!
c.
Digital Encroachment
For photographers and graphic artists, not a pretty picture out there.
"The dominant tech culture says everyone should just give away their content and their expertise," Lanier told me this week. "Then they are supposed to make money later through personal appearances, or selling T-shirts or whatever. That doesn't really help the photographer or the graphic artist who is trying to make a living right now."
*****
It's a pretty interesting article, and I'd encourage everyone to read it. Particularly for visual artists, while everyone has been focusing on the seemingly endless possibilities of technology, but there are significant negative trade-offs being made with the encroachment of digital reproduction and dissemination.
It's a pretty interesting article, and I'd encourage everyone to read it. Particularly for visual artists, while everyone has been focusing on the seemingly endless possibilities of technology, but there are significant negative trade-offs being made with the encroachment of digital reproduction and dissemination.
From a post called Black & White ImageS: the Fifth Special Collection at lines and colors:
"As I've pointed out before, even though it's not evident at first glance, computer monitors are low resolution (about 103ppi) -- print images in glossy magazines and books are almost three times higher in resolution than your monitor (300dpi); and the difference in reproducing this kind of image is striking."
He's talking about pen and ink drawings in particular, which don't reproduce all that well on a computer screen. But it also applies to printmaking, particularly if you create etchings. I'd think that it would be pretty galling to most visual artists to labor over a piece of artwork, and then having the vast majority of people who actually see the work see it in a diminished manner.
c.
Postcard WIP
"Postcard WIP," 4" x 6", intaglio, 2010. First state.
This is for a printmaking assignment of sorts. Basically, I have to create a postcard-sized image, pass it along to other artists, and etch their work onto the copper plate. There'll be three artists doing work on it along the way. The first has finished her work, but I haven't altered the plate yet. I figured this would be a fun piece to follow along it's evolution...
This is for a printmaking assignment of sorts. Basically, I have to create a postcard-sized image, pass it along to other artists, and etch their work onto the copper plate. There'll be three artists doing work on it along the way. The first has finished her work, but I haven't altered the plate yet. I figured this would be a fun piece to follow along it's evolution...
Things have been very busy the last couple of weeks. You probably wouldn't know that if you were judging by my blog, but it's yet another instance of my working very hard on a large number of pieces, and I'll end up bombarding you with a ton of larger, complete works in a few weeks. I just ordered a bunch of paper, and I'll be tearing through it in no time at all.
Well, anything else that I'd have to say right now would probably fall under the heading of "bellyaching," and rather than dive into that cesspool, I'll just bid you all a good night and promise that I'll have more art posted very soon...
c.
Meep Moop
It's a new year, so I probably should get around to breaking the seal on blogging in 2010. Here's "Meep Moop," ink and marker, artist trading card size, 2010. It's based on something quick I did in my sketchbook...
Things are finally getting back to normal. The holidays are nice and all, but the down time and irregular schedule is awful for my productivity. In any case, I'm back in the studio and inching towards happy. I started working on the woodcut version of the little cowboy I posted a week or two ago, and I got my pretty freaking big piece of copper so that I can start working on my piece for next month's "Love In Print" show at Portland's Bite Studio. Can I finish a 12" x 18" color etching from scratch in three weeks? I'm betting yes. I'll have more info about that show in a couple of weeks (it's not going to do anybody any good right now), so get ready to brave a blustery NW winter night to see a show full of pretty rad prints.
On the negative side, I got a rock chip in my truck's windshield today, and it appears that my netbook may have gone teats up after only six months. Awesome. That's okay, it's nothing a little Beatles can't soothe over. And if that doesn't work, I'll have to move on to something a little heavier...
c.
I Was There, Too!!!
From today's Indy Comic Book Week event in Porltand, OR...
In the foreground is Jason Martin (Super Real), the hat over his shoulder is Paul Guinan (Boilerplate), and Shannon Wheeler (Too Much Coffee Man) is lounging in the background. Present, but not shown was Neal Skorpen. Super thanks to Andrew and the folks at TFAW for putting on the event and being so hospitable!
In the foreground is Jason Martin (Super Real), the hat over his shoulder is Paul Guinan (Boilerplate), and Shannon Wheeler (Too Much Coffee Man) is lounging in the background. Present, but not shown was Neal Skorpen. Super thanks to Andrew and the folks at TFAW for putting on the event and being so hospitable!
c.
Indy Comic Book Week appearance
This came together very last-second, but I'll be making a rare (for these days) in-store appearance for Indy Comic Book Week tomorrow.
Portland, OR (Hollywood location)
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
2-7 PM
I'm not entirely sure how many other artists are going to be there, but there will be artists and comic books to check out! And I know you're tired of sitting at home and doing nothing anyways, so why not take a break from your winter break and find a few favorite comic book? In any case, I'll have some of my smaller prints with me, and a full array of Alien Boy material to choose from. Stock up now!
Here's a couple of links to better explain the Indy Comic Book Week and why it's going on:
Indy Comic Book Week (official site)
Hope to see you there!
c.
EDIT: I found a blog post from the TFAW, and found out that there will indeed be other artists there. Ones you may have heard of, like Paul Guinan and Shannon Wheeler!
The Future of Creativity
From "The Scientist," published in 1964:
"There are, however, particular and important ways in which science is likely to continue to exert an influence on the artistic world. One strong probability is an even greater reliance on scientific tools and techniques as aids in the creative process. Future painters may do their preliminary sketches in color on electronic "slates." Choreographers may animate stick figures by push button. Authors may employ mathematical analyses which warn that a work in progress suffers from too much repetition. Playwrights may utilize geometrical theories of plot structure. The theatrical producer with a new show for Broadway may find out-of-town tryouts more costly and less instructive than the use of a closed-circuit network that tells him precisely when his audiences laugh, gasp or tune out. However fantastic, if not repugnant, many living artists may find such ideas, their successors will almost certainly prove a more receptive breed. They may create in strange, untraditional media, but there is no reason why the best of them should not inspire and entertain as fully as did a Bach or Shakespeare in times gone by."
Yee-Haw sketch
This is a ball-point pen sketch in my sketchbook, a preparatory drawing for a small woodcut I'm going to do soon. The idea is to incorporate it into a larger image, but I think it'll work on it's own as well.
If you're amused by that sort of thing, you can click onto the image, which will take you to my Flickr site. The original image is freaking enormous (and the drawing is kind of tiny), and it's kind of funny to see pen lines blown up into what looks kind of like big, fat charcoal lines.
If you're amused by that sort of thing, you can click onto the image, which will take you to my Flickr site. The original image is freaking enormous (and the drawing is kind of tiny), and it's kind of funny to see pen lines blown up into what looks kind of like big, fat charcoal lines.
I guess I needed my current break more than I thought. I'm not particularly enjoying the down time, but I have been sick more often than not over the last two or three months, and just taking time off to get healthy wasn't an option. Taking cold medicine, single-handedly supporting the cough-drop manufacturing industry, and pounding cup after cup of coffee to keep going was the only option, and it feels nice to finally be able to take a nap if I need one. I've been hitting the gym with more regularity, and predictably, I'm feeling a lot better. My mind is finally clearing, and the ideas are flowing a bit. At least enough so that when the break is over I'm going to absolutely rock that printing press.
It's probably about even odds whether or not I'll post again before X-Mas, so I'll just wish everyone a happy holiday season right now. Keep warm!
c.
My "Go Bag"
Inspired by the Lifehacker article, I thought it would be fun to show my "Go Bag." In any case, since I spent half an hour going through pictures of what other people lug around, I want to play, too!
In a roughly clockwise order:
1. My Bag: A messenger bag that I got at TJ Maxx. It also came with a full-size laptop sleeve, but I don't use that very often.
2. Tiger Balm: I'm not a senior citizen, yet I am occasionally creaky.
3. Moleskine Cahier Journal: Perfect for jotting down notes/phone numbers/etc.
4. Magic Toy Snake: I won it at a Dr. Sketchy's event, and keep it with me at all times now.
5. Magazines: I always have mags with me, I read a ton of 'em. Right now: Juxtapoz and GQ
6. Zune 120: Yes, I do actually have that much music, and yes, I do prefer to have it available at all times.
7. Pencil Boxes: one has a random assortment of pencils and pens, the other has my printmaking implements (stylus, china markers, X-Acto knife, other pointy stuff)
8. Skullcandy Hesh headphones: I also have a set of Skullcandy earbuds that might get swapped in if I'm cramped for space, but these are ideal for those times when I'm in public, but really don't want to talk to anybody. I'm not antisocial, I'm just focused sometimes.
9. Dr. Grip refill cartridge
10. Pencil Sharpener (kind of offscreen on the bottom right): Yeah, I do still use regular pencils from time to time.
11. Sketchbook: Idea central. This one is a Moleskine knockoff I found on clearance at Borders, but it's fantastic. Just like a real Moleskine, it makes a ball-point pen look like a million bucks. Now that I'm about halfway through this one, I'm really wishing that I had bought them all up when I had the chance.
12. Spiral Notebook: I have a ton of them, but rarely use them. It's much more likely that any notes are going in the tiny Moleskine or in my sketchbook.
13. Acer Aspire One 10.1" netbook: Sadly, more powerful and handy than my full-sized notebook. Time and age makes fools of us all...
14. Mechanical pencil
15. Fancy Pants Pen: I took advantage of an office supply store's closing to snag an awesome pen for a song. Every adult should have a good pen to write with.
16. Pliers/Boxcutter: I need these more than I expected I would, so I started carrying my own. I'm really coveting a Leatherman right now...
17. Sharpie
18. 1 GB USB Data Stick: I use it mostly to shift documents between my two computers
19. Erasers: If you use pencils, you should get a good eraser.
20. Dr. Grip pen and pencil: I have big hands, so finding big-enough writing utensils (that aren't novelty-sized and obnoxious) was a chore until I found these. I usually manage to go 4-5 years before losing one of them.
21. Clear Mobile Internet Stick: Because in a small town, not everyone offers free wifi.
22. Swiss Army Business Card Holder (not shown): because you never know when it's business time.
What's sometimes in there, but isn't right now:
1. Water bottle
2. Lunch Box
3. Altoids/gum/cough drops: whichever is seasonally appropriate.
4. Books: I usually have something in there, but not today.
5. Sunglasses
6. Blackberry Curve
7. Today's Newspaper: The Oregonian
8. Set of Niji Wood Knives: for doing woodcuts. I don't know why, but I just always feel better having all of my pointy printmaking tools with me at all times.
So yeah, that's my basic survival kit to get through each day. If I could make it work, I'd like to lug around a cooler full of beverages with me too, but I just can't bring myself to do it.
Hopefully, there'll be some art-related stuff soon!
c.
